No More Flags Now The Jubilee Is Over.

        In case you didn't notice, this weekend was host to end-to-end, non-stop coverage of the Queen's Jubilee. A total of ten million people spent their weekend watching the whole let's-float-far-too-many-boats-down-the-thames-because-it's-a-party shenanigans, and seeing many more people waving small plastic flags while waiting patiently, and very politely, in the drizzle, along the side of the river for the chance to maybe view a boat or be on the telly. It was about as British as you'll get without apologising to everyone for no reason at all over a cup of tea. Personally, I went to a "Jubilee party" at the weekend, and it was a flags-everywhere, everyone-wears-red-white-and-blue affair. Well, everyone except for me & Mrs Max, mostly because we weren't informed of this dress code. Good thing too, as knowing me I'd have found it immensely hilarious to dress up as... ohh, I don't know, Napoleon! I would have ordered everyone to speak in French, and demanded everyone salute me (in Red Dwarf style) before I allowed them access to the food. It would have been the most memorable party ever, because "themed" parties are normally mind-bleedingly boring without that small minority who take them with a hint of going over the top.

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Spending So Much Time On Other People's Fun, You Forget Your Own!

The other day, I made the choice that unless it was going to be for a very good reason, I would not bother organising a party again. There are very few jobs that are as thankless as organising a shindig for people, whether it's a birthday bash, a corporate do or a wedding knees-up. Especially the last one, since the one thing that sticks out like a sore poke in the eye is politics. Since when did politics become a factor in a wedding? Sure, you want to invite a mate along, but that will mean that this person will be upset with you, or if you invite your fifth cousin because she's great fun, you are somehow obliged to invite every member of your family, regardless of the fact that you have no idea who they are or that they haven't seen you since the concept of you taking your first steps was discussed in the future tense. Why? It's my party. Don't like it? Diddums. Even my Mum fell foul of this logic recently, by suggesting I needed to invite her cousin. I don't even know who that is! If you make a rule of "No under 18's", then you instantly become a Commie Nazi relative hater. At least with a corporate do, you're doing it to please your clients!

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